Week 3, T3 2022
12/8/22 - He Pānui Wiki Toru, Whānga Tuatoru
Tēnā koutou katoa (hello everyone)
It has been great to see so many caregivers coming in to meet with teachers during the week. We hope that you have found these conversations useful and purposeful. If you were unable to make a time this week or needed to reschedule, please email your child's team leader to organise another time - either in person or via zoom/google meet. You may also need to carry on conversations with teachers and require an additional meeting - this is encouraged too.
BoT Thank You's
We would like to sincerely thank Tanya Klue, Colleen Sharp and Anna Bargh who are stepping down from the Board of Trustees. Tanya has been an amazingly committed Presiding Member to work along side and we are lucky to have her continuing on in a co-opt role until the end of the year to provide consistency as BoT changes take place. Colleen has worked hard overseeing all things financial and we have valued her expertise in this area. Anna has done a superb job of monitoring policy & procedure while also taking care of our Health & Safety checks. We will take an updated BoT photo as soon as we have everyone on deck and available for a pic.
FoGS Quiz Night Catering Thank You
We would like to that everyone who helped at the Quiz Night, banked a donation or provided amazing kai. Feedback from the event about the food has been awesome. It was a real team effort and we are grateful to everyone for their efforts in order to make this fundraiser successful.
Values Focus This Week
Assembly
Due to the South Wairarapa Football Tournament being moved to today, we didn't run an assembly. Look out for a double up of Kaitiakitanga, Manaakitanga and special awards next week.
Math-a-rappa
Lots of juggling to get this event and teams over the line this week. A huge thanks to parents who were able to transport students - this was a massive help. We are also grateful to the students who stepped up to take the places of others who are away sick at the moment.
Year 8: Levi, Kokx, Tom Nicol & Logan Mason
Year 7: Cooper Brady, Hugo Tomlin & Koby Klue.
Year 5 & 6: Allie Blake, Jade Francis, Alex Wither + Oscar Nicol, Jack McGregor, Joel Douglas
South Wairarapa Football Tournament
Thanks to everyone that was available to go to the South Wairarapa Football Tournament today. We were super pleased to see the sun shining and to be able to get out and play! Thanks to Mr Brown for all his juggling and reorganising of teams. Check out all the pics on our FB page.
Team Tracking & Trapping
The Tracking & Trapping team are really on a roll at the moment. This week 2 possums have been trapped and last week we got another weasel. One slightly awkward moment was when the boys found a baby possum next to its trapped (and dead) mother. Well done to the team who are trapping pests one by one and making our environment one step closer to being predator free!
A reminder please that students are not permitted to bring, have, buy or sell Pokémon cards either at school or on the bus. It causes too many headaches for the teaching team and we appreciate caregiver assistance with this.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Belinda
Newsletter Proudly Sponsored by Kayla Watson
Meet the BoT - Graham Brown (Staff Rep)
Bio:
I was born in South Africa. After university I moved to Zimbabwe in 1994 to start my teaching career. I met my wife, Megan, while teaching there and our two children, Cara and Kelvin, were born in Harare, Zimbabwe.
We immigrated to NZ in 2002 and I started teaching at Huntley School, Marton. I have been at Gladstone School since 2015 as Deputy Principal and am the Y7/8 teacher. I've been part of BoT since 2015. I have played most sports in my life, but at present enjoy cycling and gym. I love watching cricket, rugby, and most other sports.
Hobbies include photography, cooking, DIY and pretending to be a lifestyle farmer. Megan works for Rival Wealth. Cara went to St. Matthew’s Collegiate and now works as a youth worker for the Anglican church. Kelvin went to Rathkeale College, and is now in the Air Force.
BoT staff rep:
I have been a staff representative on the BoT since I started at Gladstone School in 2015. I have enjoyed being part of the governance side of the school and liaising with staff and BoT in my role.
FoGS Lunch Helpers
Reminder: NMSSA Year 4 Students
A reminder that we have the NMSSA (National Monitoring Study of Student Achievement) visiting next week. The team will be working with our Year 4 students. Parents of these students were notified last term. The NMSSA works in schools across New Zealand to establish a snapshot of achievement across the country. We are happy to help with their latest review.
Attendance
Our school attendance is traditionally very good. We understand that over the last couple of years COVID and other illnesses have played havoc with attendance. Attendance rates on the latest set of student reports are no reflection on your parenting, rather a MoE required FYI as to the levels of attendance. You can see an interesting image relating to attendance below - if students are well and healthy, they need to be at school.
Free Orphan Lambs
We have lambs that will need good homes shortly.
Lambs will be ready at the end of August and through September.
Pick up is from Chester Road and will be between 3 - 4.30pm Mon to Fri., & 1-3 pm Sat.
The lambs will be 2 days old, healthy, happy & have had colostrum for a good start.
They are free or for a small Koha.
We have a brochure of advice & hints for pet day preparation if you’d like.
For any questions &/or to book a Lamb please contact:
Olivia Ph or txt 021 2423468 Between 9am-3pm Monday to Friday
(outside these hours a txt can be left but I have poor reception so can’t get calls)
Email – Business.Admin@neer.nz
Reminder: Vaping Workshop
The South Wairarapa Kāhui Ako have been working closely with Life Education Trust to try and deliver real, informative information on vaping. Vaping continues to be a problem for our young people at secondary school and beyond. The idea is that schools try to help prevent students taking up the habit in the first place.
Students will be attending a workshop called 'Behind the Scenes, which is a Theatre in Education performance focussing on vaping and social media influences @ Greytown School @9:30 am on Thursday 18 August - we will be travelling by bus (the cost of the bus is being funded by the Principal's Association). Parents are encouraged to attend the performance with their young person; however they and all students will need to wear a mask indoors.
Our educator Laura Wood will then deliver a “Vape Truths” workshop on Friday 19 August @10:15 am @Gladstone School.
Life Education Trust is also offering a whānau webinar on Monday 22 August @7pm where members of our community can join a zoom link, hosted live by Laura, that provides educational information and discussion we hope will generate conversations at home too.
Here are useful online resources from the Ministry of Health on staying healthy.
Tips to help keep our tamariki well this winter – YouTube
Ministry of Health: Monitoring illness in children – Facebook
Ministry of Health: Tips on when to keep your child at home – Facebook
Scarecrow Fair Monster Auction - Thank You Katy Post
A huge thank you to Katy for stepping up to take on the auction coordination. We really really appreciate it. The challenge now is for everyone to get out and about securing action items. Once you have something sorted, please let Katy (katy@pointdorsetinteriors.nz ) or Belinda (principal@gladstone1.school.nz) know and these items can be added to the list. The auction is one of our main income streams for the fair and relies heavily on the awesome input from our community.
COVID-19 Case Number & Health Update
We have 10 student COVID cases, 1 staff case and 7 students isolating as HHC that we are aware of - please keep us updated as we move into a wee spike in the presence of COVID within our kura. We also have a tummy bug doing the rounds (mostly in the Ruamahanga space where it likely started while we were on camp). Masks will continue to be worn next week.
Term 3 - Things Coming Up
Week 4 - 15/8 BoT Meeting 6pm; 16/8 Y7&8 Rippa Rugby; Y7&8 Vaping Workshop.
Week 5 -
Week 6 -
Week 7 - Y 7&8 Rural Kids North Wai; Y 7&8 Design Tech Starts; AIMS Games.
Week 8 - Y 3&4 Camp Kaitoke; NZ Principal's Conference; Dance Splash.
Week 9 - Gladdy's Got Talent; Kids St John's First Aid Courses; School Photos.
Week 10 - Possible Kapa Haka Festival.
Please find a direct link to our Whānau Calendar below. It can also be accessed via the app and the school website.
School Docs - School Policy & Procedures
This term parents are asked to review our 'Student Safety Policies'. Go to 'current review', read the policy and make any comments by clicking on the red icon - top right of the screen.
Contact Us
Email: office@gladstone1.school.nz
Website: http://www.gladstone1.school.nz
Location: 1471 Te Whiti Road, Gladstone, New Zealand
Phone: +64 6 372 7601